As the sun beats down and the long days take a toll on our energy and hydration levels, there’s nothing like a refreshing meal to get you back on your feet. Sometimes, though, a light, simple meal can compromise on flavor . . . but not when it comes to these salads, which showcase the bright, crunchy, revitalizing cucumber.
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Weeknight cooking inspiration, curated and written by longtime ATK author and editor (and avid home cook) Jack Bishop.
Don’t believe us? Try these flavorful and refreshing salads for yourself.
Peach and Cucumber Salad
When it comes to flavor, this salad does not hold back—but it also respects your resistance to rich, heavy dishes in the height of summer. Two pillars of summer produce, peaches and cucumbers, come together to prove that fresh flavors can still be bold, especially paired with deeply savory fish sauce and fragrant ginger and lime.
Mint and cilantro give this bold salad some cooling, herbaceous qualities and tie it all together for the perfect summer dish. And the fact that it comes together in only 20 minutes, giving you more time to sip a cold drink? That’s just a bonus.
Peach and Cucumber Salad
This refreshing salad offers a punched-up take on sweet peaches and cool cucumber.
Get the RecipeCucumber Salad with Smoked Salmon and Capers
If you’re a breakfast bagel loyalist but find yourself unwilling to stomach the loftily stacked brunch fare, this is the salad for you. Recreating all the best flavors of a classic smoked salmon bagel, this salad gives you a more veggie-forward option that’s light on the stomach but big on satisfaction.
All your favorite characters from the bagel shop are here: smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and lemon are loaded into this salad, but heavy cream cheese is swapped out for a lighter, more spoonable sour cream dressing. And if you feel like you can’t fully part ways with your bagel just yet, that’s fine: we include crunchy bagel chips and an everything-bagel seasoning to sate the carby cravings.
Cucumber Salad with Smoked Salmon and Capers
Same great flavors. Fresher, more vegetable-forward presentation.
Get the RecipeCorn and Cucumber Salad
If you like your salads on the creamier side, without compromising on that fresh, light feeling that a cucumber salad can deliver, then this perfect mix of rich-yet-fresh ingredients is everything you’re looking for.
Summer vibes abound in this salad that features lightly sautéed corn paired with cucumber and red onions. A bit of substance comes into play with a tangy sour cream dressing, followed by a smattering of rich, salty feta. This salad is light and bright but packed with flavor.
Corn and Cucumber Salad
The key to coaxing the most from these subtle summer players was supplying the right supporting cast.
Get the Recipe
